The Unity College women’s soccer team finished a memorable season with a record of 6-4-1 and an appearance in the Yankee Small College Conference championship game.

Unity College players represented among the YSCC All-Conference Award winners include YSCC North Co-Player of the Year Mariza Gionfriddo. Sarah Cantwell, Devon Funt, and Gionfriddo were named All-Conference selections.

“I’m so proud of our student-athletes,” Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “The hard work behind the scenes in practice, the teamwork, the drive to succeed, the ability to learn from mistakes, and the incredible sportsmanship all represent what it means to be a leader in the environmental century, and not just in athletics.”

Unity’s women’s soccer season included a mark of 3-1-1 at home, including a 4-3 victory over Southern Maine Community College on Senior Day, when Gionfriddo notched her second goal of the game at 89:10 to break a 3-3 tie and give the Rams the win.

Samantha Jalkowski also had a pair of goals in the game, which ensured a tie for first place in the YSCC North Division standings.

Unity earned a 3-0 win over Hampshire College in the 2016 YSCC semifinals in a game that featured a hat trick by Jalkowski. All three of her goals were scored in the second half; two were assisted by Funt.

The victory propelled the Rams into the YSCC championship game, where they fell to NHTI 3-0. The three goals Unity College allowed NHTI in the title game matched the fewest goals NHTI had scored in a game all year. NHTI finished the season with a record of 15-3.

Unity College was led on the season by Jalkowski, who finished with seven goals and four assists for 18 points. Her seven goals were tied for eighth best in the conference. Gionfriddo finished with four goals for eight points. Funt added eight points on three goals and a pair of assists.

Unity College goalkeeper Sarah Cantwell finished the season with a 1.41 goals-against average and a .797 save percentage. Both ranked second best in the conference.

Carly Davis, Funt, Kathleen Carey, Melanie Jackson, Raeann Bond, and Zoe Picanso were all named to the 2016 United States Collegiate Athletic Association Fall All-Academic team.

With only three seniors on the 2016 women’s soccer roster, the future is bright the Rams.

Unity’s men’s soccer team finished 2-8-1 on the season with a pair of home wins, defeating Vermont Tech 2-0 and Central Maine Community College, 2-1. Ben Denoncour and Will Desmaris were both named to the 2016 YSCC All-Conference team. The Rams fell to Southern Maine Community College 2-1 in the YSCC play-in game. Denoncour tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second half with an assist from Jacob Cyr, but SMCC scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute to prevail.

Desmaris led Unity College in scoring on the season with two goals and an assist (five points). Keegan Nelligan and Denoncour each had two goals (four points). Cyr chipped in with a goal and two assists (four points).

Derrick Bates, who played in goal for the Rams, was named to the 2016 USCAA Soccer All-Academic team.

For photos of the Unity College women’s and men’s soccer teams in action, visit the Unity College Flickr page.